Readmissions to hospital in a frail older cohort receiving a community-based transitional care service.

Aims: To investigate frequency of and reasons for hospital readmission in a frail older cohort receiving a community-based, multidisciplinary, transitional care service.

Methods: A prospective cohort study with descriptive analysis of reasons for readmission in a cohort of frail older people discharged from hospital with the service. Measures of frailty, comorbidity, cognition, quality of life and function were recorded at discharge.

Telephone discharge support for frail, vulnerable older people discharged from hospital: Impact on readmission rates - Participant and general practitioner feedback.

Objective: To assess the use and acceptability to older participants and general practitioners (GPs) of telephone support postdischarge to reduce readmissions.

Methods: A prospective cohort study of older people after discharge from a specialist geriatric unit, and comparison with a previous cohort. Telephone follow-up calls were made fortnightly for three months.

Medication use and potentially inappropriate medications in those with limited prognosis living in residential aged care.

Aim: To compare the prevalence in residential aged care (RAC) of preventative and potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) in those who died within 12 months versus those alive after 12 months.

Methods: Firstly, a cross-sectional survey of 6196 people living in RAC in Auckland. Secondly, a research physician searched electronic hospital records in one District Health Board for a sub-sample (n = 222) of these residents.

Progress towards predicting 1-year mortality in older people living in residential long-term care.

Background: frail older people living in residential long-term care (LTC) have limited life expectancy. Identifying those with poor prognosis may improve management and facilitate transition to a palliative approach to care.

Objective: to develop methods for predicting mortality in LTC.

Impacts of the emergency mass evacuation of the elderly from residential care facilities after the 2011 Christchurch earthquake.

Objective: The 2011 earthquake that devastated Christchurch, New Zealand, led to the closure and evacuation of 7 residential care facilities and the partial evacuation of 2 more. Altogether, 516 elderly persons were evacuated. The emergent nature of the disaster was unexpected and largely unplanned for.

Perceived factors which shape decision-making around the time of residential care admission in older adults: a qualitative study.

Aim: To understand the perceived factors that shape decision-making around the time of residential care admission in older people.

Method: Two qualitative methods (telephone interviews at intervals post discharge from geriatric inpatient care and face-to-face interviews with older people and their family carers) were used as part of a multiphase mixed methods study of a cohort of 144 older people discharged from medical wards in a subacute assessment, treatment and rehabilitation facility.

Results: Key topics and themes were derived from interviews: the role of the informal carer and other community supports, attitudes to decision-making and loneliness were key aspects of social context.

Frailty: dominos or deliberation?

Frailty is a common, but under-described, condition in older people, that is now better understood thus aiding better identification and treatment. It is characterised by multisystem deterioration and loss of physiological reserve to cope with insults. The traditional physical phenotype of frailty comprises 5 key findings: weakness, sarcopaenia, weight loss, physical inactivity, and slowness (which are also modulated by psychosocial factors).